Duterte to sign 2021 budget on December 28

“It was clarified yesterday (Dec. 21) that the signing of the budget will be on the 28th...it will be held in Davao,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing yesterday.
Presidential Photo/Yancy Lim

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is expected to sign into law on Monday the proposed P4.5-trillion budget for next year in Davao City, where he is set to spend the Christmas holidays.

“It was clarified yesterday (Dec. 21) that the signing of the budget will be on the 28th...it will be held in Davao,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing yesterday.

Roque said five House members and five senators would attend the signing of the budget, described as the biggest economic stimulus during the pandemic.

The 2021 budget contains allocations for the government’s response to COVID-19 and programs intended to revive the pandemic-stricken economy.

About P72.5 billion will be spent for vaccines purchase. Malacañang had expressed hope that the spending bill would be signed into law by yearend as a reenacted budget could affect the Philippines’ growth prospects.

In his public address last Monday, Duterte said he would spend Christmas in Davao City, where he served as mayor for more than 22 years.

“My countrymen, Christmas is approaching so I am here in Davao again because you know that I am from Davao and my family is here,” the President said.

“It has been the tradition of Filipinos to be with their families – birthdays, events in the lives of people that have significance to the family,” he added.

Roque could not say whether Duterte would also celebrate New Year in the southern city.

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